Sacred Band (ARS)
| Sacred Band | |
|---|---|
| Светиот бенд | |
 Memorial to the Sacred Band near Zovahr. | |
| Country | Republic of Syara |
| Branch | Army of the Syaran Republic |
| Type | Motorized Infantry |
| Size | 1,200-2,500 |
| Engagements | Quenminese Front |
The Sacred Band, known officially as the 449th Motorized Infantry Regiment, was an infantry regiment of the Army of the Syaran Republic composed largely of homosexuals from the Republic of Syara. Based on the Sacred Band of Makedon of antiquity, the Sacred Band regiment was formed in 1928 originally as an infantry battalion during Syaran buildup to the Siduri War. Christened the Sacred Band by King Davlok II of Makedon, the Sacred Band was seen as a symbol of Syaran and Makedonian cultural and military heritage. It was intended to spirtually connect the Republic with the Makedonian Empire during a period where Syaran nationalism was prominent throughout the Republic's culture and historical nostolgia for the Empire was emphasized by both Syara's government and society.
Originally a conventional infantry battalion, the Sacred Band was motorized and enlarged to regimental strength in 1933 during planning for the invasion of Ruvelka. The Sacred Band later took part in the campaign was part of Army Group Alpha, seeing action in the Battle of the Koryal Plain. The regiment was later transferred to Army Group Delta for the invasion of Quenmin. It was later assigned to Army Group Epsilon and took part in extensive fighting along the Quenminese Front. It played a major role in the Battle of Tân Xuyên, destroying over 50 Common Axis armored vehicles. Following the launch of Operation Kunai Grass the Sacred Band was comitted to fighting a rear guard action against Quenminese and Cacertian forces by Field Marshal Zdravko Merakovski, where it was annihilated. Plans to reform the regiment were put on hold by the Liberation of Ruvelka, after which Syara surrendered and signed the Treaty of Aragon.
The role of the Sacred Band has made it a common mention in discussions regarding LGBT Rights in Syara. The Sacred Band's association with the Royal House of Makedon has made its proliferation less common and well received in the Commonality following the Refusal War, but regular mention is made of it in discussions of military history in Syara. A monument constructed by the Syaran Army in 1944 still stands near Zovahr.